China's Balancing Act: Economics and Environment

6/13/2013 6:10AM

China has become notorious for its environmental pollution that has hit record levels in tandem with rapid economic expansion. Nature Conservancy CEO Mark Tercek shares with us his efforts to dovetail conservation with investment in China.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... the ... it's no secret site ... has been beset by ... scandals and pollution issues ... really this Kara is has been cadmium contained rice with me to discuss this is nature Conservancy CEO market Ersek Mark thank so much for joining us today and know ... you just gotten in and it's it's been pretty busy day fees so far ... other than the question I have is you know it's no secret that these pollution issues in big issue in China what do you see some of the biggest issues for the country and how is the nature Conservancy working with China to address these issues ... the biggest challenge in China it is um you know he's recently the focus has been on economic growth in order to live people from poverty ... poverty and that's been very successful ... but of course it's been ... with a very heavy ... environmental costs ... and so going for China's leaders in government and business ... have to figure out how to continue to make economic progress but with much better environmental outcomes ... and that's when the nature that were the nature Conservancy comes in ... we think we can use our science to guide business leaders ... and government leaders ... for tonic I know when when have we continue to have economic progress ... but was much better environmental outcomes ... to think that government has gotten better in terms of becoming more transparent about the issues that are facing its citizens in that country ... I think the government ... aam deserves high marks for understanding sales ... the tree of course is that this is her ... it's hard to get more time is right now to sustain the economic progress that's important ... with better environmental outcomes ... that the pressures clearly aam ... of witness how assistance in Beijing are complaining about the air quality that's probably a good thing in the grand scheme of things putting more pressure on government business leaders to ... really get their act together as fast as possible ... philanthropy in the idea from and then giving back some very nice concept and tying up I'm wondering how that squares with ... experience in the U S where of course it's established in and people are happy to contribute ... to your organization ... well it's true the US has a really remarkable history and culture of philanthropy ... and we benefit from that and as American a proud of that ... that same tradition doesn't exist everywhere in the world but as a ... philanthropic Lee supported organization the nature Conservancy is doing everything we can to generate ... support for our work and in China things are going quite well ... um we have a group of volunteer leader said China board of trustees who are ... a generally successful business people they care about the environment ... they think the nature Conservancy can make a difference and their funding our work The very generously ... in fact there now even funding or work outside China ... and so we're very encouraged by that participation and support ... now that's a little bit about you I mean you have a very unique background you in and the Goldman Sachs twenty five years they've booked a twenty five years ... how are you bringing that perspective ... to the nature Conservancy and how does that say ... you ideas as soon as the CEO of the kids no profits ... yell at people think my background is kind of weird investment banker now leading the nature Conservancy ... I think it's actually very useful background a half ... of the environmental movement has been a great movement lotsa great organizations teensy is one of them ... the we environmentalists often also have to admit that we get a raise our game in order to address the challenges challenges we face ... it's it's it's time for news that its new approaches to the new leaders ... and having a business person charge I think makes sense ... now we talk a little bit about time that but it is said to me earlier you guys are looking at issues in Indonesia Australia what are some of the other big strategic issues in the region that you guys are tackling ... the other the same issues we face an all around the world ... um humans swat prosperity ... they want economic progress but now we understand that ... if that progress economic progress comes by undermining ... environmental systems ecosystems than the whole thing will unravel so we've got to figure out how to better balance those two objectives and to get posts whether that's in ... the agricultural states concerning water issues ... of climate related issues ... so now's the time for environmentalists to partner with other parts of society government ... business ... fishing communities hiding communities indigenous people ... and the use science ... to guidance for it in the smartest way possible those who were trying to do ... that thing so much for joining us not to suck CEO of the nature Conservancy more in this story please go the WS J dot com for Asia Today Ahmadi the Sanchanta